Wallet

ABSTRACT

A wallet is provided which requires no stitching or seaming during manufacturing. The wallet is assembled by folding a blank pattern of material cut or stamped from leather or the like and inserting locking tabs provided on the blank through associated slots to form the completed wallet. The wallet can be folded such that either side of the material forms the visible surfaces of the wallet. The sides of the material may be of different textures or colors to provide a unique wallet that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which has the feature of being reversible.

United States Patent Eastman Nov. 6, 1973 l l WALLET v [76] Inventor: Verne G. Eastman, 5125 Cisne, pmfmry Exam" 1er GeOrge Lowrance Wyoming Mich. 49508 Assistant Exammer-Stephen P. Garbe Att0rneyPrice, Heneveld, Huizenga & Cooper [22] Filed: June 9, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 151,308 ABSTRACT A wallet is provided which requires no stitching or seaming during manufacturing. The wallet is assembled S 1 4 3332 by folding a blank pattern of material cut or stamped [58] Fieid 38 28 from leather or the like and inserting locking tabs provided on the blank through associated slots to form the completed wallet. The wallet can be folded such that either side of the material forms the visible surfaces of [56] References Clted 'the wallet. The sides of the material may be of different UNITED STATES PATENTS textures or colors to provide a unique wallet that is rel- ,;2; B h- 150/32 X atively inexpensive to manufacture and which has the 2,555, ur am.... 150/32 X f t f i v ibl 2,653,640 9/1953 Br0wning..... 150/28 A ea ure 0 g 142,405 9/1873 McAnulty 229/84 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 WALLET The present invention relates to wallets or the like and, particularly, to a wallet which requires no sewing during its manufacture.

Wallets, billfolds, and the like which are manufactured of leather require several sewing or stitching operations during the manufacturing process which increase the cost of the wallet. Wallets manufactured from less expensive substitute materials such as plastic, do not require stitching, but do require heat or other types of seals during manufacturing. The consumer is therefore faced with the'choice of paying a considerable sum of money for a top quality leather wallet, or buying a less expensive plastic type of wallet which lacks the durability and appearance of a leather wallet. The wallet of the present invention, however, can be inexpensively manufactured from fine quality leather at a relatively low cost since the many sewing operations are eliminated.

The price of a wallet embodying the present invention can be further reduced since it can be sold in blank form such that the consumer can fold and assemble the wallet thereby eliminating the additional manufacturing costs which would be incurred if the manufacturer assembled the wallet.

In addition to providing an inexpensive quality leather wallet, a walletembodying the present invention will have a longer usable life than stitched leather wallets or seamed plastic wallets since there are no stitches or seams which could eventually wear out and require restitching or rescaling.

Another feature of a wallet embodying the present invention is that it is reversible. The material from which the blank is cut can be folded in either of two ways. For example, one side of the material may be of smooth grain leather while the other'side has a suede type of finish. When folded in one manner, the wallet will have a smooth surface; if folded the reverse way, the exposed surfaces of the wallet will have a suede type of finish. Also, the opposite sides of the blank material which forms the wallet, when folded, can be of different colors thereby providing the consumer with a reversible wallet which can have different colored surfaces as well as surfaces which have different textures.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wallet which can be inexpensively manufactured from leather material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wallet which is manufactured by stamping out a piece of blank material, folding the blank material, and inserting locking tabs on the blank material into associated slots to complete the assembly of the wallet.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a seamless wallet which is reversible by the user to provide either a different color or a different texture wallet or .both at the users option.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wallet embodying the present invention includes a blank pattern stamped from leather or the like which includes four panels having fold lines therebetween. One of the panels includes locking tabs which communicate with associated slots in another one of the panels to hold the wallet together when the wallet is assembled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of the blank pattern of material which can be folded to provide a wallet embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the blank pattern of FIG. 1 after two of the panels have been folded;

FIG. 3 illustrates the structure shown in FIG. 2 after an additional fold;

FIG. 4 illustrates the completed wallet with the locking tabs inserted in associated slots;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one of the locking tabs taken along the section line V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the tabs shown in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the completed wallet shown in an open position to illustrate the various pockets and compartments therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, the wallet comprises a blank pattern 50 which can be cut or stamped from leather or other suitable material. The blank pattern 50 comprises a first panel 10, a second panel 20, a third panel and a fourth panel 40. It is understood that these four panels are cut from one piece of material and are separated only by fold lines 15, 25, which divide panels 10 and 20, 20 and 30, and 30 and 40, respectively, as shown in FIG. 1. v

The first panel 10 has a first surface 14 on one side number being shown in dotted lines) on the opposite surface of the material. Panels 20, 30, and 40, likewise,

' have first surfaces 24, 34, and 44, respectively, on one side of the material and second surfaces 26, 36, and 46 on the opposite side of the material. The first panel 10 includes a slot 12 which can serve as a holder for a drivers license or the like as explained below.

The second panel 20 includes a first end flap 21 having tabs 22 and 23, and a second end flap 27 having tabs28 and 29. Tabs 22, 23, 28 and 29 are preferably generally arrowhead shaped in configuration. The third panel 30 includes an aperture 37 which is rectangular in shape and cut at approximately the midpoint of the panel as shown in FIG. 1, the purpose of this aperture will described with reference to FIG. 7. Panel 30 further includes slots 32, 33, 38, and 39 through which tabs 22, 23, 28, and 29 are extended when the wallet is assembled as described below. Preferably, slots 32,- 33, 38 and 39 are T-shaped, the cross bar portion being slightly shorter than the widest portion of the locking tabs. Panel 30 includes slots 31 and 31 adapted to accommodate end flaps 21 and 27 when the wallet is assembled. Panel 40 has a surface which forms the outside of the wallet when folded.

The manner in which the wallet is folded to provide an assembled wallet is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. As seen in FIG. 1, the first panel 10 and fourth panel 40 are folded inwardly along fold lines 15 and 35, respectively as indicated by the arrows associated with these panels. The resulting structure is shown in FIG. 2. The surface 16 of panel 10 will be on the top of the left portion of the resulting structure, and the surface 46 of panel 40 will be on the top of the right side of the structure as shown in FIG. 2. The panels 30 and 40 forming the right section of the structure in FIG. 2 are then folded again as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2. The resulting 4-ply structure is shown in FIG. 3, the top most surface is surface 36 of panel 30.

The end flap 21 is folded over a portion 30A of the panel 30 as indicated by the arrow, down through the slot 31, and under a portion 30B of panel 30. Tabs 22 and 23 are then pulled through slots 32 and 33 thereby locking these tabs into position and holding the upper part of the wallet together. The second end flap 27 is similarly folded and inserted through slot 31. Tabs 28 and 29 are extended through slots 38 and 39 respectively to lock tabs 28 and 29 into position thereby holding the lower portion of the wallet together. The resultant structure is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Details of the individual layers of material and the folding method is shown in FIG. which is a cross section of tab 22 taken along the section lines VV in FIG. 4. It is seen that the panel has its end flap 21 folded over a sandwich structure comprising panels 10, 40, and 30. The end flap 21 is folded over a portion 30A of panel 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, through slot 31, and under a portion 30B of panel 30 also shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Tab 22 is then brought out through slot 32 such that the tab 22 is locked into position holding the 4-ply structure together at that corner. The remaining tabs are similarly folded and locked into position to form the completed wallet shown in FIG. 7.

By providing slots 31, 31' parallel to and near the ends of panel 36 and through which flaps 21 and 27 are inserted, respectively, as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7, a portion (30A at one end) of the panel 36 immediately adjacent the opposite ends of the wallet is captured and held between the flaps and the outer panel 20 (FIG. 1). In combination with the flaps and slots 31, 31 and the pair of spaced tabs which are at opposite corners of the flap and which are inserted into the T-slots, the wallet is provided with securing structure which securely holds the ends and corners of the folding wallet in a tight and neat appearing manner. v

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the corner of the wallet including locking tab 23. It is seen that the end flap 21 is folded over the third panel portion 30A, through slot 31, and under the third panel portion 308. Tab 23 is then brought through slot 33 to lock the tab into position. Although the slots 32, 33, 38, and 39 are T-shaped to facilitate the insertion of the associated arrowhead shaped tabs, they may in other embodiments, take other shapes or forms. However, it has been determined that the arrowhead shaped tabs are especially well adapted to be inserted into the T-shaped slots with ease and the inherent shape of the tabs securely locks them within the slots. Yet, due to the inherent flexibility of the material, such tabs can be easily removed from such slots. 3

The completed wallet 60 is shown in FIG. 7. It is seen that the aperture 37 cut into the third panel 30 forms pockets 62 and 64 between the third and fourth panels respectively. These pockets can be used for photographs, credit cards, or the like. In addition to providing these pockets, this aperture allows the wallet to be folded in half to form a relatively flat structure since there will be only three plies of material at this fold. An elongated compartment is formed between the surfaces 16 of be panel 10 and surface 46 of panel 40. This section can be employed for storing currency or other relatively long materials. Slot 12 shown in FIG. 1 which is cut in panel 10 will be located inside this compartment and provides a convenient location for storing a drivers license or the like. This slot could likewise be cut in panel 40. It is seen from the figures that the visible surfaces of the wallet comprise the material on one and the same side of the blank pattern 50 shown in FIG. 1 (i.e. the surface with reference numerals ending with the digit 6).

Referring to FIG. 1, it is seen that the blank pattern 50 is symmetrical about the axis indicated as X-X (with the exception of the slot 12). Thus, the blank material 50 can be rotated on the X-axis and be folded in the same manner as described with regard to FIGS. 1 through 4 to provide a wallet having the opposite side of the blank material exposed on the visible surfaces. Thus, either the surfaces having the numeral four as the second digit in their reference number or the numeral six as the second digit in their reference number can form the exposed surfaces of the wallet. It is seen, therefore, that the resulting wallet is easily reversible by disassembling and refolding in the opposite manner. One side of the material may have a pebble grain or smooth surface while the opposite side may have a suede type finish. Likewise, one side of the material may be dyed a first color, while the other side is dyed a different color. This feature allows the consumer to change colors by merely disassembling the wallet and refolding the blank in the opposite direction. This feature may be particularly attractive to women who wish to carry their wallet or billfold in different purses whose colors are compatible with one ofthe colors available with the reversible wallet.

It may be desirable for the manufacturer to provide the consumer with the stamped out blank pattern 50 and include instructions on folding the wallet such that the consumer can fold and assemble the wallet thereby greatly reducing the cost to the manufacturer and reducing the sale price of this wallet to the consumer. Thus, it is seen that a wallet embodying the present invention can be inexpensively made from excellent quality leather and can'be easily packaged without the need for assembly by a manufacturer. It is noted that the compartments 62 and 64 are adapted to receive photograph holders or the like which can be inserted therein and may be included with the wallet.

I claim:

1. A pattern of material adapted to be folded into a reversible wallet, said pattern-comprising:

flexible material having a first side with a first characteristic appearance and an opposite side of a different characteristic appearance, said material defining four adjacent, elongated, substantially rectangular panels defining two inner panels joined along a folding junction and two outer panels each joined to one of said inner panels at a folding junction therebetween wherein one of said inner panels includes a flap at each opposite end thereof and each flap includes a pair of arrowhead-shaped tabs positioned at opposite corners of said flap and extending therefrom and wherein said other inner panel includes an elongated slot near each end thereof extending at least partially between said folding edges thereof parallel to the end of said other inner panel and spaced slightly inwardly from said end, said other inner panel further including a pair of spaced I-shaped slots formed in said other inner side of said pattern material is a first color and said opposite side is a different color.

3. The pattern as defined in claim 1 wherein said first side of said pattern material has a first texture and said opposite side has a different texture.

4. The pattern as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elongated slots is positioned substantially midway between the associated T-shaped slots and the end of said inner panel.

Flo-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,7 0,034 Datd Novembei' 6, 19 73 I Inventor) Verne G. Eastman It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thet said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 68:

fll-s h apednshOuld be T-Shaped ---I..

- (SEAL) Attes't: I

' EDWARD I LFLETCHERJR. I l G. MARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer Commissioner of Patents i x i 

1. A pattern of material adapted to be folded into a reversible wallet, said pattern comprising: flexible material having a first side with a first characteristic appearance and an opposite side of a different characteristic appearance, said material defining four adjacent, elongated, substantially rectangular panels defining two inner panels joined along a folding junction and two outer panels each joined to one of said inner panels at a folding junction therebetween wherein one of said inner panels includes a flap at each opposite end thereof and each flap includes a pair of arrowhead-shaped tabs positioned at opposite corners of said flap and extending therefrom and wherein said other inner panel includes an elongated slot near each end thereof extending at least partially between said folding edges thereof parallel to the end of said other inner panel and spaced slightly inwardly from said end, said other inner panel further including a pair of spaced I-shaped slots formed in said other inner panel and spaced inwardly from each end of said panel on a side of said elongated slot remote from said end wherein said elongated slots are shaped to receive said flaps of said one inner panel such that said flaps are extended through said elongated slots when the pattern is formed into a wallet by folding said panels along said folding junctions and when said arrowhead-shaped tabs are inserted into said T-shaped slots to securely hold together the ends of the wallet so formed.
 2. The pattern as defined in claim 1 wherein said first side of said pattern material is a first color and said opposite side is a different color.
 3. The pattern as defined in claim 1 wherein said first side of said pattern material has a first texture and said opposite side has a different texture.
 4. The pattern as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said elongated slots is positioned substantially midway between the associated T-shaped slots and the end of said inner panel. 